Myrtie Hairston Bryan's Funeral Book - Seymour, Texas 1927

This funeral book titled "In Memoriam" was completed after the death of my
grandmother, born Johnie Myrtlene Hairston. 

I have seen spelling variations of her first and middle name but most knew her as Myrtie. 

Myrtie died more than 25 years before I was born. My father was six years old at the time and only had a few memories. Her obituary, seen at 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks: #1 Johnie Myrtlene "Myrtie" Hairston, tells some of her story. 

Myrtie's parents were Phillip A. Hairston and Lodema Walker Criswell. She married my grandfather, Redic E. Bryan in 1900 in Erath County, Texas. 

At the time of her death, she had five living children. My father, Whit Criswell Bryan, was the youngest. His brother, Hairston Albritton Bryan (Buster), and his three sisters - Myrtie Marie Bryan (Marie), Monte DeRay Bryan (DeRay), and Willie Mae (later known as Willa Mae). 

I assume this was written by one of Myrtie's daughters. At the time, 23-year-old DeRay, was a teacher in Amherst, Lamb County. Marie, age 25, was at home and probably helped with the house and younger children. Willa Mae was 17 years old and still in high school. 21-year-old Buster was living and working in Wichita Falls and my father was six years old and living at home. 

Myrtie's date of birth has been erased. Myrtie was born in Falls County, Texas on 8 July 1880. Her family left Falls County for Erath County in 1883. Myrtie came to Baylor County in the fall of 1905 with her husband, two daughters, and her parents. 

Services

At

Home

Officiating Clergy

Rev. J. R. Baulch

Rev. C. E. Cogswell

Music

"In the Sweet by and by"

"Rock of ages"

"Jesus Savior, Pilot Me"

By

G. E. Barrett

F. Morris

Myrtie was buried in Woodmen Cemetery. Myrtie is said to be buried with two

children who died as infants and with her parents. Later, her husband, Redic, and son, Buster, were also said to have been buried nearby. However, only Myrtie's grave is marked. 

Floral Offerings

Fidelis Class

Y.W.A.

Marrero Cross

[Myrtie's first cousin. Marrero was the daughter of Lodema's sister, Caldonia.]

First Babtist Church

Woodsman Circle

Mr. & Mrs. J.D. Blanks

Mrs. J. S. Foster

Mr. & Mrs. T. E. Brock

Jack Eaves & Family

[Jack Eaves was married to Lodema's sister Frances Criswell - Aunt to Myrtie.]

Mrs. W.B. Murphy

Richmond Family

Mrs. Putge [transcription is questionable]

Whit Criswell & Family

[Whit Criswell was Myrtie's Uncle and the brother of her mother, Lodema.]

Mr. & Mrs. W. B. Murphy

Floral Offerings

Mrs. J. F. Bunkley

Mr. & Mrs. S. L. Webb

Mr. & Mrs. A. G. Barrett

Mrs. John Criswell  & Family

[John Criswell was Myrtie's Uncle, brother to her mother, Lodema]

Mr. & Mrs. Chloe Shawver

W. M. W.

Mrs. A. R. Smith & Family

Mrs. F.M. Rayburn

The Pep Squad

Amherst Faculty

Mrs. M. M. Harrison

Mrs. C. E. Rupe

R. E. Bryan & Family

Pall Bearers

G.W. Adkins

W. H. Frances

O. Parks

J. A. Blanks

Wesley Harrison

Charlie Harris

Flower Girls

Flo Richmond

Catherine Clark

Ruby Williams 

Nell Smith

Velma Wilbanks

Willie Mae Adkins

Annie Bell Emsoff

Wanda Jones

Henry Lee Carter

Family Record

Father

P.A. Hairston

Mother

Lodema Hairston (Criswell)

Other Members of Family

R.E. Bryan

Marie Bryan

DeRay Bryan

Buster Bryan

Willie Mae Bryan

R.E. Bryan Jr.

(died in infancy)

Redic E. Bryan

(died in infancy)

Whit Criswell Bryan

Mrs. John Criswell & Family

Memoranda

Telegrams

J.E. Biggs - Groom, Texas 

[James E. Biggs was married to Redic's sister, Terrell "Bunch" Bryan]

J. D. Blanks - Denton, Tex.

Marrero Cross - Waco, Tex.

[Myrtie's first cousin. Marrero was the daughter of Lodema's sister, Caldonia.]

Whit Criswell - Marlin, Tex.

[Whit Criswell was Myrtie's Uncle and the brother of her mother, Lodema.]

Dollie Wylie

[Dollie Wylie was the sister of Redic Bryan.]

Cordus Bray

[Cordus Bryan was a friend of DeRay. I have letters he wrote to DeRay.]

SEYMOUR MERCANTILE COMPANY

W.H. GRAY

Funeral Director and Embalmer

SEYMOUR, TEXAS 

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Diana

© 2022

Sources 

    Diana Bryan Quinn "52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks: #1 Johnie Myrtlene "Myrtie" Hairston," blog entry, 5 January 2014, Moments in Time: A Genealogy Blog (https://momentsintimeagenealogyblog.blogspot.com/2014/01/52-ancestors-in-52-weeks-1-johnie.html : accessed 3 January 2022).

    Lena Stone Criswell, "Criswell-McKinley Family Tree," private tree, Ancestry (https://www.ancestry.com/family-tree/tree/10909485/family/familyview? : accessed 3 January 2022).

    Myrtie Hairston Bryan, photograph, ca. 1910; digital image, from the privately held photo collection of D.B. Quinn, 2022.

    Myrtie Hairston Bryan's Funeral Book, In Memoriam (Seymour Mercantile Company, Seymour, Texas), 1927,  privately held by Diana Bryan Quinn, Virginia Beach, VA, 2022.

    Terrell Bryan Family Bible Records, 1836 - 1927, The Illustrated Polyglot Household Bible (Philadelphia: G. Zeigler, McCurdy, & Co., 1870), "Family Record," privately held by Diana Bryan Quinn, Virginia Beach, VA, 2022.